davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
An Awkward Mistake.

A clubman relates at his own ex-
pense the following Renaissance of his
visit to London last summer: Wishing
to take advantage of the alleged cheap
ness of clothing in. London, he carried
with him no more than he actually
needed for the voyage. and on his
arrival posted up to London in his
steamer dress, to find an important
dinner engagement awaiting him, only
few days of. 1t was an extremely
hot day and he was tired, but he went
at once to the establishment of tailor
who had been recommended, and asked
to see the proprietor, Mr.. Y. That
gentleman appeared, and the following
conversation took place: "You are
Mr.. Xp" the American asked. "Yes,"
was the laconic reply. ..Well," con.
tinued the American, 81 met your
customer, Mr.. A., on the steamer, I've
Just landed from, and he advised me to
come and see you before looking any
where else" "But really, my man"
the tailor said, looking the dusty,
travel-stained visitor over from head
to foot. II am awfully sorry not to
oblige Mr.. A., don't you know, but
really we don't need any more help at
present" The American Is neither
vain nor lacking in sense of the ludi-
crous, so that instead Of becoming
MORALLY offended, as many might have
done, he simply laughed and explained
that he wanted some work done him.
self, and on this footing he was treated
with consideration designed to atone
for so awkward mistake. Boston
Cor Providence Journal.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
Resolved on Celibacy.

The servants IN certain house
struck the other day and left in body.
A selfish wonder on the part of the
master that everything was not as
orderly under the management of his
wife rs when she had three servants,
kept him in a state Of mental turmoil
and constant crossness. At the end
of the week the son of the house, II boy
of dozen years, announced gravely
that he never intended to marry. 1t
was at the breakfast table. and break
fast was a guarter-hour late. Il
should think not" growled his father,
you'll have some comfort in life If you
don't"
.That's not Il" said the youthful
disciple Of progression. "Tm afraid II
+ should get married | would scold my
wife when she didn't deserve it, SO /
guess I'll be an old bachelor, and then
cant "-BOstoa Record.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
He Lef' I'm Benin.


.'O-a, brer rabbit, yer legs Is mighty lightP'
"fas, brer dog, I'm gwine take EN- out o.
sight"
"Ho, brer rabbit, yer mustache mighty fner
"fo, brer dog, I'm gwine ter keep 1t mine"
20, brer rabbit, yer eyes Is mighty Target"
"Yar, brer dog, en- de show me how to,
$50, brer rabbit yer skin is mighty sleekT"
"Yar, brer dog, en- low ter move Il quick"
.wo, brer rabbit, yer foots is mighty roun'r'
$50, brer dog, Pm gwine lay 'em on de
groun."
20, brer rabbit, yer yeahs Is mighty thini"
"Yas, brer dog, en- III CINE EN- ter de win'."
..Wah. brer rabbit, yer jumpin' mighty goodr'
"Yar, brer dog, en- hit takes me 10 de wood"
"Yi. brer rabbit. ant you trottin' kinder
"Yar, brer dog, but ant agettin' tame"
timer
'so-so, brer dog, sit back by-m-byme."
Hi, brer rabbit, yer cuts or pretty sinner
$50 long, brer dog, done lef' you behind"
-Bivouac.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
A Curiosity OF Commerce.

Along the northeast coast of Africa,
south of Cape Guardafui, there are no
towns worth mentioning for some hun
dreds of miles. The Somali natives
who live along the coast have had
scarcely any dealings with white
traders. A little while ago a smart
firm in Alden made up their minds that
by maintaining regular communica-
tons with this coast they would be able
to build up good trade. They there
fore bought little steam vessel and
sent their agents along the coast to tell
the natives that at certain times, if
they would look out on the sea, they
would see a steamer coming, laden
with beautiful goods, to give them in
exchange for hides, palm oil, and the
other products of the Somali region.
The little vessel has now made
several trips, and the experiment has
proved great success. Knowing that
they may expect the steamer at the
date fixed the natives from many miles
in the interior flock to the shore at the
different points where the vessel stops.
A large crowd well burdened with OBJ
jects of exchange await the steamer,
which anchors off the coast while
trading boats put ashore, and lively
market is soon in progress where few
hours before nothing could be seen but
the understanding sands that border
this coast.
The goods that are most in demand
among these new customers of the
whites are Venetian glassware and
American cotton shirtings. They drive
very fair bargains, and it is noteworthy
that the poor stuffs they bought at first
they now discard for better goods.
The same keenness has been observed
among other African natives. The
Congo tribes, for instance, will not
touch now the poor jackknives and
flimsy cottons they were greedy for a
few years ago. The grades of goods
that the Congo State now takes to
Africa for bartering purposes along the
river cost, on an average, from sixty
to hundred per cent more than the
goods that were sold to the natives six
or seven years ago.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
Wolves as Herders.

A few days ago, while hunting ante
lope on the divide between Horse and
Adobe Greeks, / came in sight Of
band of wolves, thirty or more, which
wefr closely herding about 200 head of
range cattle My curiosity to learn
their object induced me to remain q
couple of days in seeing distance TO OBJ.
serve their actions. When my atten-
ton was first drawn to the wolves they
were together in the rear of the cattle,
but very soon they separated and SUR
eounded the gradually outspreading
herd and chased the animals together.
They would then await the notions of
an apparent leader, who would run in
to the bunch, cut out calf, when the
rest would rush to him, help throw
and and hastily tear out its entrails.
Thus mangled they would leave it,
separate, and run swiftly to surround
the now fleeing cattle, again round
them up, single out another calf, throw
and leave it in dying condition. If
any of the older animals hung back
and showed fight they would be in
stantly hamstringed and left thus dis
abled. In no instance did the wolves
seem disposed to further mutilate these
older animals. This maneuvering was
repeated time and again until the
wolves must have satiated their taste
for blood. Then these varmints seem
ed to be inspired by the teaching Of
the author, Emusic hath charms to
soothe the savage beast" for they
would raise hideous howl, which %
feet on the cattle was not satisfactory,
for they would trail out and try to get
away, when they would again be chas-
ed close together and held to await fur
Their action. How large this bunch
was when the wolves first gathered
them together l have no means of
knowing, but am satisfied that the
wolves and cattle will be inseparable
until the calves are all killed. Then 1
think they will gather another and
again another bunch and kill all the
young. counted in two days eleven
calves, some yet alive, with their en-
trails protruding from their sides, be-
sides seven large and older ones with
their hind legs rendered useless
Letter in Ebert (Colo. Tribune.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
Lighting the Big Monument.

The interior of the Washington mon
ument was lighted from top to bottom
with seventy-ive incandescent electric
lights, and the effect was very strik-
ing, writes correspondent of the Bos-
ton Herald. The object of the illumi-
natioa was TO ascertain if the electric
lighting apparatus is in order, as it
had been somewhat disarranged by
The contractors In reconstructing the.
elevator. The monument will not. be
lighted regularly until there is some
provision for running the new passen-
ger elevator. The electric lighting
plant was provided for by the appro-
priation for completing the monufnent,
as was the elevator; but there, Is
need of congressional legislation, and
appropriation before either can be put
into regular operation. Then visitors
win no longer have to tramp up and
down FIVE hundred feet of iron stair
way. by the dim and Pickering light Of
candles provided by themselves, but
win be lifted rapidly through the long
shaft, which will be kept almost { %
light as day. The motive power for
the elevator will also run the dynamo
engine, which lies alongside the eleya-
tor engine under the terrace at the
base Of the monument. The lights
are at the stairway landing, and ARE
fastened to brackets extending from
the iron framework in the center of
the shaft. There are four lights at the
observation-disclosures level, four at the bot
tom of the shaft, and two in the pit
Each landing for the first 100 feet is
supplied with two lights and the others
with one light each. The effect is
striking as one looks up the shaft from
the bottom and sees these brilliant
lights on. alternate sides extending
clear to the top and brilliantly illumi-
mating the entire interior of the struc-
ture. The monument was lighted at
its dedication, but hardly anybody
knew it, as but few people entered the
monument on that occasion. Since
then it has not been lighted except for
testing purposes. Visitors still think
that they ought not to leave without
having been to the top of the monu-
ment.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
A Cooperative Success.

One of the most successful cO-opera
tive stores in the country is that Of the
Arlington Cooperative Association at
Lawrence, Mass. Tie eighth quarter
ly statement is an exhibit that any
business might be satisfied with. The
number of members on October l,
1886 was 351, and the share capital
paid up was $3.50. The average capt.
tai in use for the year was $3.50,
The total sales for the year ending
October were $45, 384.04; the gross
profits, $S,060.51; the expenses, in
Guiding salaries and interest, 81, 209. 10;
the net profits, $3,770.32; the dividend
divided among purchasers was 49,
| 118. 40; the amount carried to sinking
fund, 1851, 92; the interest paid on
capital at per cent was $192.07, and
the total return on the average capital
employed was IS, 962.03. or lO3 1900
per cent. The gross profits Were IL
76-1O0 per cent on sales; the year be-
fore they were 16 2-1OO per cent. The
expenses were only 8 45-l00 per cent
on sales; the year before they were 10
7-1OO per cent. The net profits were
8 31-1OO per cent on sales; the year
before they were 5 30 100 per cent.
The members are those who own share
capital, and share capital receives only
5 per cent interest. All profit is dis
tributed among purchasers in proper
ton to their sales. Purchasers who
are not members are allowed one-half
| the percentage of dividend that men,
bers receive. Any one may become a
member by paying 81 toward a share.
and then leaving his dividends on pur-
chases to his credit until the share is
paid for. In this way families that
never before had saved cent, and
| were habitually in debt to the grocer
are accommodating capital. The store
| is open until half past 6 O'Clock Mon
day evenings, 8 o'clock Tuesday and
Thursday evenings, o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon, half past 9 O'Clock Fri
day evenings and 10 o'clock Saturday
| evenings. A team calls on customers
for orders twice q week. Members
perform a great deal of the labor with
out pay and so keep expenses down.
Work and Wages.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
Andover's Champion Economist.

THAT hoard of old Paine's," said an
ancient Andoverian, reminds me Of q
story of one of our champion econom-
lists, who lived near the theological
seminary. He was mighty professor
in his day, and set so close an example
of thrift that If the old adage about a
penny saved being pound earned had
been true, he could have made Andover
Seminary the richest foundation in the
Union.
One day he stopped in at one Of our
town stores to buy IL hat. The shop
man showed him two-one for IS and
one for b. While the old gentleman
stood hesitating, the salesman said
blandly: "if you viii permit me. pro-
fessor, should be pleased to make
you present Of this hat" holding out
the most expensive one.
The professor took it, tried it on
again, shaped it tenderly to his white
head, and replied sweetly: "Oh. thank
you, am very much obliged to you,
but what did you say the price WASP"
'.Five dollars" answered the shop
man, bowling: ..but nothing to you
SIR"
'.Well, really thank you very
much. but if it is 1.-THE same to you /
think Twill take the IS and you can
give me the difference in change-$2
think you said"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
His Plan to Fix His Landlady.

EDO you know I'm foolp" excited
ly said an Olive street man. II rented
furnished house from a woman"
t"What of thatP" r....
"What of thatp Oh, nothing of it,
only the devil of it, that's all. Here I'm
stuck for a year in furnished house,
and here is the owner running in every
day to see If we are running the furni-
ture. No matter if we have company
or not, it's all the same to her, and
every acquaintance of mine in town
knows that rent furnished house,
and my wife is SO harassed that she il
growing hysterical. It's all right,
however; have one consolation. I've
got friend in the same boat, only he
is in worse fix"
's.So?"
.Yes. He rented house on Lafay.
cite avenue, west of Jefferson, and
signed an iron-clad lease for year.
It's the allfredest lease you ever saw,
as it gives her the privilege to drop in
as often as she pleases, to see if every
thing is all right. Well, that woman
is always dropping in. She lives on
the West side, between Lindell and
Bell avenues, but that makes no differ
ence. Cold, or rain, or mud, or thun-
der and lightning don't keep her from
dropping in She beats any seventy
seven women in seven states as drop
perrin" The other day she went right
into his parlor, got down on her knees,
and struck match to see if the carpet
was worn any, and that carpet is four
years old. Then she rearranged the
furniture. and said it must be left as
she fixed it, because she used to keep
1t that way. She gave the hired girl
instructions how to run the furnace,
told her to sweep off the steps, told the
tenants that they were using the parlor
too much, and suggested that they take
the hired girls room for common sit
ting-room, and capped the climax by
sending woman down to cover all the
furniture with cheap cretonne. Most
of the furniture she bought when she
first furnished the house eight years
ago. There are three houses in the
block. The other two rent for $S5 and
my friend pays $3.50 month for
the use of some furniture. But he il
going to fix her."
"How can he do itp"
"Move out and sublet the house for
$25 to a man with eight children. Then
she will abrogate the LEASE" -St. Louis
Critic.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

Rheumatism is the fashionable dis
ease this winter. Pneumonia is left
out In the cold, and diphtheria has its
ugly nose put out of joint by the
grinding though less dangerous, tor
ture of the ..fayorite'' of the hour. II
anybody has anything the matter with
him now, it is rheumatism; a dig
here, shooting pain there, mark the
presence of the fiend, and lucky the
victim Of its incipient attacks If it
doesn't twist him into fiddle strings be-
fore he is cured.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
The Altitude Of Our Capitals.

Among the publications Of the gov
eminent geological survey is a volume
giving the altitude Of q large number
Of places in the country. We have Sc
lected from IL the attitudes of thirty
four capital cities; those Of the capitals
of five States = Florida, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri
are not given In the list and 50 are
omitted here. II will be seen that four
are each above the 1.000-feet level, ten
more are shove 500 feet, nine are be-
tween 500 and $50, and the remaining
eleven are below 100 feet. In every
case where it has been given the alti-
tude used is that Of the railroad sta
ton. Boston, for instance, is the side
walk in front OF the Boston and Albany
station, and Hartford is the station
here, etc. The following is the rec
ord:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

A few other places may be mentions
ed, too. New Shoreham, the flourish
ing capital of Block Island, is at It's
signal station "a feet above the sea.
In New York city the tracks Of the
railroad crossing Harlem bridge are al
an elevation of IL feet. The Forty.
second street station is 81 feet above
the sea. At Broadway and Chambers
street, the height is "a feet. The
Springfield railroad station is 70 feet.
The New Haven station is 10 feet
Hartford Courant.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
An End to Bone Scraping.

Edward Shepherd, of Harrisburg, ILL.,,
says: Having received 80 much bene-
fit from Electric Bitters, I feel it my
duty to let suffering humanity know it..
Have had running sore on my leg for
eight years; my doctors told me would
have to have the bone scraped or leg
amputated. / used, instead, three bot
ties of Electric Bitters and seven boxes
Bucklen's Arnica Salye, and my leg is
are sold ct fifty cents a bottle. and Buck-
lens Arniea Salve al 25c. per box by ].
r. Jones.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

Following are some Of the high dwell
ing-houses in New York city: Osborne
fiais. III feet in height; Dakota flats.
1856 feet; Muno flats. 155 feet; Navarro
fats. 1924 feet. The measurement Is
from the curb level 70 ROOT.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

JTnIT can i've at nome, and make more
VIII money at work for us, than ut anything
IlIelse in this world. Capital not needed;
you are started free. Both sexes; all
ages. Any one can do the work. Large earn
ings sure from first start. Costly outfit and
terms free. Better not delay. Costs you
n you are wise Won viii do 90 az once. II.
HkLLRfr Co., Portland. Maine. s4yrl
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25
POINTERS on BRICK
Willard & Polchow.

FARMERS READi
Contractors get OAR prices. r.
Builders and all call and see our brick before
buying.
Best foundation Brick.
Best building Brick.
Best Red Veneer Brick.
Best Red Chimney Brick.
Best Brick for Cisterus.
Best Brick for Wells,
Best all purpose Brick made I'm Minnesota
Manufactured at our yards In MaDkato.
36 WILLARD & PoLCHow.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

.0-a, brer rabbit, yer legs is mighty lightl''
"fas, brer dog, I'm gwine take EN- out d
sight"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

BAPTIST CHURCH. - +. L. PATTERSON,
~ Pastor. Services every Sabbath al
1889 a. m and 1880 p. IN. Young people
Meeting at 700 p. m. sabbath school at 1900
tn. Prayer meeting every Thursday evening
at $50 p. IN. Covenant meeting on Thursday
evening before the first Sabbath in each
month
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

NNELSH CALvANlSTIC METHODIST
w church. Located on State st. Services
very Sunday 10 Il. m, .. p. m, p. m. A cord
ial invitation extended TO all.
REV. J. 4. JONES, Pastor.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-25

OUR SAVIOR'S EVANGELICAL UTH-
" ERAN CHURCH, corner Pleasant and
Carroll Str. Morning services begin nj 1880:
evening services at 7:30. Sunday school meets
at p. IN. REV. h. q. FAEGRE, Pastor.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26

five hundred to thousands of acres each. We have
one million tenant renters, almost many as there
are in Great Britain, cultivating one-fourth of our
total farms and 1924, 900 wage workers who do
not even rent land of the million and a half
real farmers who either wholly or
in part themselves cultivate their holdings. 1t is
estimated forty per cent, have their farms merit
gagged to such an extent as really to pay rent in
interest. In many instances we already have a
system of pooling and combinations to which the
much denounced union tyranny and that of the
terrible walking delegate cannot hold candle
Until lately, in all but a, few Districts, even
the best organized workers could hardly
counterfeit the terror of the tcket-of-leave
plan, by virtue of which it was impossible for the
black listed unfortunates to obtain employment.
But the increased influence of the Knights of Labor
had no sooner mirigated that oppression and as
serted the right of employees TO have
voice in fixing their remuneration than
the cry goes up from the employers that
'we want to manage our own BUSH ess;
no dictaton,' and the incidental advice is thrown
in that workmen for their own good should eschew
the bosssm of knighthood, and become free
''suuires of work. That means work and ask no
questions. In default, there seems to be a deter
mination to down" the knights and uproot the
organization among workiugmen, and make the
victory of the bosses complete.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
}. The woods are full of game

ages on ages ago. The woods are full of game
and the waters full of fish, including the
speckled brook trout.
Only about three hours drive away over
beautiful roads are the far famed and yet
too little known Wisconsin dells, miniature
art gallery of natures witcheries and Won
ders A glory of cavern and valley, of beet
ling crag and frowning precipice, far distant
archways overhead and vast powders of moss
grown stones under foot. Towering chasm
walls, winding and twisting so near together
that the explorers hands rest on both sides at
once, and so high that the blue sky seems
resting fiat upon the slender rift in the roof
of stone through which the dim and pallid
light comes trucking in with the glistening
water drops that perpetually tinkle from
above And all the vast, weird structures Of
stone, walls, roofs and floors, semi-subter-
ranean chambers and corridors, torrent CHS
eled statues, arches and pillars, covered with
an endless profusion of exquisite moses and
ferns-fourteen varieties of ferns in single
canyon. The crystal streams that tumble
and foam along the pathway swarm with
speckled trout, and every step and turn re-
veals labyrinth of novel, wild and beautiful
scenes, as though Kentucky's Mammoth Cave
had been rent open at the top by an earth.
quake, and tapestried with spray genimed
evergreens and flowers.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
Women and Soldiers in Cuba.

There are 10000 soldiers in Cuba, and their
average height is about five feet five They
dress in light blue striped gingham suits,
which look as though made of bed ticking,
and these suits are faced with collar and
cuffs Of green. They wear Panama hats with
rosettes on the side, and they drill very well.
Many Of these soldiers had on shoes with
French heels, and the ordinary Cuban shoe,
whether it be for man or woman, has the
heel in about the center Of the foot. The
Cuban women have very small feet and they
walk very gracefully. They have good
forms, and considering the lazy life of the
better classes and the use OF the rocking
chair, it is wonder that they are so erect.
Education is not very forward in Cuba, and
OF the children not one-tenth 90 to school,
There is university at Havana and the
town has some good schools. But the chief
education for girls is embroidery and
etiquette, and the education which results
from the daily newspaper and the magazine
Is practically unknown. from Ha-
Vana